Lifestyle and Behavioural Changes In Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic Are Associated With Subjective Cognitive Complaints

János Zsuffa, András Attila Horváth

Keywords: COVID-19, subjective cognitive complaints, risk factors, social isolation, psychosocial effect, lifestyle change, behavioural change

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restriction measures changed the lifestyle and behaviour of older adults. Thus also affected the cognitive state of elderly. Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) is a self-reported experience of persistently impaired cognitive functions which could be the earliest red flag of neurocognitive disorders.

Research questions:

The aim of this study was to examine the sociodemographic and comorbid factors, lifestyle and social life changes associated with the development of subjective cognitive complaints (SCC); and to identify the factors that most predispose to the condition.

Method:

In our cross-sectional study analysed the data of 359 elderly Hungarians who filled out the WW-FINGERS-SARS-CoV2 survey.
We compared sociodemographic features, health status, lifestyle, and social life parameters between subjects with reported SCC and without.
To eliminate the potential interrelation across group differences, forward stepwise logistic regression was applied.

Results:

A quarter of the respondents (n=88) reported SCC in connection with the pandemic. Participants with SCC showed the following characteristics compared to individuals without: 1) they were older; 2) they were more likely to be women; 3) they had a higher number of chronic disorders; 4) showed more prominent impairment in physical mobility; 5) had worse sleep quality; 6) spent less time with family; and 7) used internet more frequently during the pandemic (all p’s<0.001). Logistic regression highlighted that only two parameters were related to SCC status independently, the physical mobility (ability to walk 500 meters without difficulties; OR=1.186; p<0.001; 95%CI=1.101, 1.270) and changes in time spent with grandchildren (OR=1.04; p=0.015; 95%CI=1.008, 1.073).

Conclusions:

Our study highlights the importance of early prevention and the relevance of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. Moreover, our results draw attention to the importance of physical activity and close family ties as key aspects of healthy brain ageing that are often overlooked.

Points for discussion:

early prevention of neurocognitive decline

risk factors of neurocognitive decline

lifestyle intervention of neurocognitive decline

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